The Gruesome Tale of Big Nose George Parrott: From Outlaw to Leather Shoes
Discover the eerie story of Big Nose George Parrott, a notorious outlaw whose legacy includes being turned into a pair of shoes after his death, symbolizing justice in the Old West.
Big Nose George Parrott’s name may be infamous in the annals of Wild West history, but what sets him apart from other criminals of the time is the macabre end to his life. Unlike most outlaws who simply faced the noose or a bullet, George’s body was put to a far more gruesome use—he was turned into a pair of shoes. This tale of lawlessness, justice, and an unusual posthumous fate continues to captivate and horrify those who hear it.
The Crime That Led to George Parrott’s Downfall
Big Nose George Parrott was not your average outlaw; he had a long history of petty theft, stagecoach robberies, and violent crimes. However, his downfall came from a poorly executed train robbery that led to the cold-blooded murder of two law officers.
In the 1870s, George Parrott and his gang tried to derail a Union Pacific train near Carbon County, Wyoming, planning to rob it. Their plan failed when railroad workers discovered the tampering and alerted law enforcement. Sheriff Robert Widdowfield and Deputy Tip Vincent were sent to investigate. Unfortunately, they were ambushed and murdered by Big Nose George and his gang. This brutal act marked the beginning of the end for Parrott.
“George Parrott’s senseless killing of the lawmen triggered an intense manhunt that ultimately brought him to justice.” – Wyoming historian, John W. Davis.
The Capture and Trial of Big Nose George
After the murder, George Parrott fled, but his luck would soon run out. In 1880, he was captured in Miles City, Montana, after bragging about his crimes in a drunken state. This careless act of arrogance led to his identification and arrest. Parrott was extradited to Wyoming, where he faced trial for his role in the lawmen’s deaths.
The trial was swift, and George was sentenced to death by hanging. However, Parrott, always a man of desperate measures, tried to escape by sawing through his shackles. His failed escape attempt enraged the locals.
The Grisly End of Big Nose George Parrott
Following his botched escape, tensions ran high in Rawlins, Wyoming. The citizens, furious at the brutality of his crimes, decided to take justice into their own hands. On March 22, 1881, a mob stormed the jail, dragged George Parrott out, and lynched him from a telegraph pole.
While this could have been the end of his grim tale, fate had a different plan for Big Nose George.
The Medical Experimentation
After his death, Dr. John Osborne, a local physician with a peculiar interest in anatomy, requested George Parrott’s body for medical research. What followed was one of the strangest chapters in medical history.
Osborne, along with Dr. Thomas Maghee, dissected George’s body, studying his brain in hopes of discovering the cause of his criminal behavior. This form of experimentation was not uncommon in the late 19th century, where phrenology (the study of skull shapes) was mistakenly believed to hold answers to human behavior.
“Osborne’s fascination with criminal anatomy led him to conduct one of the most bizarre post-mortem processes in Wild West history.” – Wild West author, Robert Utley.
The Transformation of Big Nose George Into a Pair of Shoes
In one of the most macabre twists of the tale, Dr. Osborne decided that George Parrott’s body would serve a dual purpose—not only for science but for fashion. Osborne tanned Parrott’s skin and used it to create a pair of shoes and a medical bag.
The shoes, bizarrely enough, became part of Osborne’s wardrobe. He wore them during his inauguration as Governor of Wyoming in 1893, a chilling reminder of how George’s outlaw life continued to serve as a symbol of justice—albeit in a grotesque fashion.
- George Parrott’s skin was used for:
- A pair of shoes
- A medical bag
The shoes, now on display at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins, Wyoming, serve as a haunting relic of frontier justice.
Big Nose George’s Impact on Wyoming History
The story of Big Nose George continues to intrigue historians and locals alike. His legacy, entwined with the violent justice of the Old West, stands as a symbol of the lawlessness that once defined the region. Wyoming in the late 19th century was a land of opportunity, but it was also a place where vigilante justice was swift and brutal.
The shoes and the medical experiments on George Parrott are not just a reflection of his criminality but of the era’s fascination with crime and punishment.
- Wyoming’s frontier justice is exemplified through:
- The lynching of Big Nose George
- The public’s acceptance of Dr. Osborne’s strange experiment
The Medical and Ethical Debate Surrounding the Case
In modern times, the treatment of George Parrott’s body raises serious ethical concerns. Dr. Osborne’s use of human skin to create shoes might have been seen as a medical curiosity in the 19th century, but today it’s viewed through a lens of moral questioning.
- Ethical considerations include:
- The use of a criminal’s body for personal gain
- Public acceptance of lynching and body mutilation
- The role of physicians in legal retribution
These debates reflect broader issues of how society deals with criminals—both in life and in death. The case of Big Nose George Parrott remains a point of contention, especially regarding the fine line between justice and brutality.
Big Nose George in Popular Culture
Unsurprisingly, the tale of Big Nose George has seeped into popular culture. His story has been retold in Wild West lore, and he has appeared in various books, documentaries, and museum exhibits. His gruesome end and transformation into shoes make him a symbol of both the brutality and eccentricity of frontier justice.
Appearances in Literature and Media
George Parrott’s story has been featured in several historical books and documentaries about the Old West, where he is often portrayed as a cautionary tale. His shoes, now a museum piece, have become a bizarre yet powerful reminder of the sometimes grotesque nature of vigilante justice in the 1800s.
“The shoes are a chilling reminder that the Old West wasn’t just about lawmen and cowboys—it was a place where justice could be as brutal as the crimes.” – Old West historian, Glenn Shirley.
Big Nose George’s Biography Table
| Full Name | George W. Parrott (aka “Big Nose” George) |
|---|---|
| Born | Circa 1834, likely in Missouri |
| Criminal Activity | Train robberies, murder of law officers |
| Capture | 1880, Miles City, Montana |
| Death | March 22, 1881, lynched by mob in Rawlins |
| Unique Fact | Turned into a pair of shoes after death |
FAQs
Who was Big Nose George Parrott?
Big Nose George Parrott was a notorious outlaw in the late 1800s, known for stagecoach robberies and the murder of two law officers in Wyoming. His crimes and eventual lynching made him infamous.
How did Big Nose George die?
George was lynched by a mob in Rawlins, Wyoming, after a failed train robbery and murder of law enforcement officers.
Why was George Parrott turned into a pair of shoes?
After his lynching, local physician Dr. John Osborne used George Parrott’s skin to create a pair of shoes as a morbid reminder of the outlaw’s crimes.
Where are Big Nose George’s shoes now?
The shoes made from Big Nose George’s skin are on display at the Carbon County Museum in Rawlins, Wyoming.
What is Big Nose George’s legacy?
George’s story represents the brutality of frontier justice and remains a morbid curiosity in Wild West history.
References:
https://www.historydefined.net/
